Improvement in torpedoes for oil-wells



H. o. HUNTINGTON." Torpedo for Oil-Wells. N0. 2l4,041.

Jazz/wafer.

' Patented April 8, 1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIG- HENRY O. HUNTINGTON, OF OIL CITY,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E- HALF HIS RIGHT TO SAMUEL T. PARKS, OFSAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'II'ORPEIDOES FOR OIL-WELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,041, dated April 8,1879 application filed November 11, 1878.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an improved torpedo as anchoredin a well and in the act of firing off. Fig. 2 represents a section ofthe improved torpedo, partly in elevation, with the wings of the anchorfully extended.

My invention consists of improved devices for explodingtorpedoes inoil-wells-the novel method of anchoring the same suspended in anypart-of the well, without having the anchor supported on the bottom ofthe well, as all those used at present depend upon the bottom of thewell to support the torpedo.

It also consists of improvements in the location of the springapparatus, being below the torpedo-magazine in case of misfire. In caseof misfire the torpedo is not lost. It can be withdrawn from the welluninjured, thefulminate recharged, supplied with a new anchor,

' and placed again in the well.

The torpedo-magazine is represented by A, which is provided with aconical base, B, said base terminating in a neck, G. The internalcircumference of said neck has a screw-thread cut therein for thereception of the upper end of a barrel or tube, D. The lower end of tubeD is provided with a shoulder, d, for holding in place the bottom of aspiral spring, E, surrounding said barrel on the outside. The upper endof said spring bears against a pin, F, projecting over at right angleswith said spring, and plays vertically up or down in slots d d, formedin the directly opposite sides of tube D. Located inside of tube D isthe firing-pin G, provided on its lower end with a latch, g, said latchen gagi n g with a corresponding latch, 71, forming the upper end of thetrigger H.

Said trigger has a pin, 2', which bears against the under side of theshoulder-rin g d, and prevents the end of the firing-pin coming incontact with the cap I, containing the fulminate. The lower end of thetrigger-bar His provided with a hole, h, for securing the anchor-rope J.The lower end of said rope is secured to the end of the anchor-bar K.Said bar has pivoted on opposite sides win gsL L, provided withshoulders I Z, to prevent said wings from dropping below their fulcrum.The bar is also provided with a stop-pin, m, to prevent said wings fromfalling on the opposite sides of the anchorba-r.

Secured to the upper part of neck 0, and extending a short way into themagazinechamber of the torpedo-shell A, is a short flue, N, provided atthe bottom with an annular shoulder, n, for receiving the flanged rim ofthe fulminating-cap I.

In operating my improved torpedo, a wire cord is placed through theholes at the top of the shell A, and the torpedo lowered into the well.When it has reached the proper location in the well for the explosionthe cord is drawn up a few inches, the wings L remainin g stationary bymeans of the sharp points to w penetrating the walls of the well, andthe anchor-bar K being also elevated with the torpedo. The tension ofthe bar and connectingrope are so great as to depress the spiral springE by means of the shoulder d as the tube D is being elevated. When thetube D has been elevated sufficiently it allows the latch h, formingpart of the triggerbar H, to escape from the latch g, forming the lowerpart of the firing-pin G. The anchor drops to the bottom of the well,while the firing-pin G comes in contact with the fulminating-cap I, thusexploding the torpedo.

In setting the torpedo, the pin F is forced down, taking the spring Ewith it, until the latch g has been forced out a sufficient distance toallow the latch h, forming the trigger, to engage with 9, when it isdrawn into tube D by means of spring E until stopped by pin t, whichstops firing-pin Gr close to, but not in contact with, thefulminating-cap I.

Torpedo'es, as heretofore constructed, have to be anchored at the bottomof the well to discharge the fulminate, and the means of explosion is incontact with the cap, which is liable to explode at any moment bystriking any slight obstruction that may project from the walls of thewell. With my improved self-anchoring torpedo there is no suchinconvenience or liability to explode, as it can be lowered into thewell as roughly as possible, and no danger ensue to the operator. Thefiring-pin is never in contact with the cap until the latches arereleased at the moment of firing, and then it is accomplished by anupward pull by the operator. The anchor can be secured in any part ofthe well by pulling slightly upward, which drives the points of theanchor-win gs into the walls of the well, as represented at Fig. 1,heretofore described.

I elaim l. A torpedo provided at its lower end with an explosive cap anda tube surrounded by a spring, said tube inclosing a firing-pin pro-"ided with a beveled shoulder, by which it can be retracted by thetrigger while in the tube, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. A torpedo-anchor, suspended by a rope under the torpedo, and formedof an anchorbar, K, having a pin, m, and wings L, loosely pivoted tosaid stem, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a torpedo, the combination of a case, A B, having a neck, 0, andtube D- attached to its lower end, with afiring-pin, G, propelled by aspring and retracted by a trigger-rod having a beveled shoulder on itsside, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the case A B, tube D, attached to its lower end,and flue N, provided with an annular shoulder, 42, with a firing-pinhaving a beveled shoulder, g, and operated by a spring inelosing saidtube, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signatureinpresence of two witnesses.

HENRY o. HUNTINGTON.

Witnesses;

J AMES 0. Boron, W. B. EDELEN.

